Deadline: December 15, 2025
Are you an ambitious student or recent graduate from Africa with a bold business idea or an early-stage venture ready to scale? The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026 is your opportunity to gain world-class training, mentorship, and funding to transform your entrepreneurial dream into reality.
About the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026 offers African students and recent graduates the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills and grow their businesses through an 8-month intensive programme.
Delivered by the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) at Queen’s University, Canada, this fellowship provides world-class training, business development support, mentorship, and financial backing. Fellows will learn directly from industry experts and Queen’s faculty using the “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” framework developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Through this transformative programme, participants will acquire the knowledge, mindset, and network needed to succeed as entrepreneurs and leaders within their communities.
What the Fellowship Offers
The fellowship delivers training, mentorship, funding, and global exposure designed to help Fellows launch and scale successful ventures.
1. Entrepreneurship Training
- Best-in-class training and bootcamps designed by Queen’s University experts and entrepreneurs.
- Learn practical frameworks, including the MIT “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” model.
- Acquire tools to design, validate, and grow your business effectively.
2. Micro-Credentials
- Fellows who complete the programme successfully earn Queen’s University micro-credentials in entrepreneurship.
3. Mentorship & Networking
- Fellows are matched with experienced industry mentors and entrepreneurs for personalised guidance.
- Access to Queen’s University’s entrepreneurial alumni network for long-term connections and growth opportunities.
4. Financial Support
- Up to 60 Fellows will receive a stipend of CAD $500.
- Fellows also gain access to pitch competitions with prizes of up to CAD $15,000.
5. Global Exposure
- Selected Fellows may have the opportunity to travel to Queen’s University, Canada, for advanced training and networking at the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC).
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must:
- Be students or recent graduates from any African post-secondary institution.
- Be studying or have studied in any academic discipline.
- Have a business idea or an existing early-stage venture.
- Be able to commit approximately 10 hours per week to the programme.
- Be proficient in English, as the fellowship’s training and assignments are conducted in English.
- Mentorship may be available in English or French.
Programme Timeline
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, at 12:59 PM ET
- Notification of Results: By the end of December 2025
- Programme Duration: 8 months (Early 2026 – Late 2026)
Why You Should Apply
This fellowship is more than just training — it’s a launchpad for African innovators ready to solve real problems and create sustainable impact.
If you are passionate about entrepreneurship and are looking for a programme that offers expert mentorship, funding opportunities, and global exposure, this is your chance to take your idea or venture to the next level.
How to Apply
Ready to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey?
👉 Click here to apply for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026
📘 Read more about the programme here
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